Beauty salon owner's kind offer to help encourage more women to go for their smear test

A Holbeach beauty salon owner is hoping to raise awareness of the importance of having a smear test - by offering women free bikini waxes.

Sacha Byford, of My No.1 Hair, Beauty and Aesthetics, in Holbeach, is running the offer all throughout February for women who bring in their smear test appointment letter.

She has a personal reason for wanting to raise awareness, following the sad death of a family member from cancer last May.

Beautician Sacha Byford is offering free bikini waxes throughout February to encourage more women to go for their smear tests. Photo: Tim Wilson.

“My sister-in-law did not go for her test and then later when she did go, found out she had cervical cancer.

“She obviously did not get it in time. She had treatment, including chemotherapy, but it went to secondary cancer.

“It’s important to do whatever it takes to get people there and if I can help by offering bikini waxes...

“I have had some negativity. Obviously there is the myth ‘why should I look this way to go to the appointment?’ But we are not saying that. If this helps people get the appointment booked and go, that is a good thing.”

Figures out last year indicate that the number of women not going for cervical screening has dropped, with 1 in 4 not attending appointments. For those aged between 25-29, figures suggests that 1 in 3 do not go for their smear test.

Sacha says that while there has been some negativity, she hopes to raise awareness of cervical screening. (6983205)

The research, carried out by the charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust among more than 2,000 women in the UK, showed that half either delayed or didn’t attend screening.

It is claimed that the main reason for this is because of ‘embarrassment.’

Sacha (39) said the response when the offer was posted on Facebook has been mainly positive so far.

When we shared the news on our Facebook page of the offer at her salon in Boston Road, people were, on the whole, supportive.

“What a lovely thing to do!” was one comment.

“Fantastic idea, well done them,” was another.

And in response to any criticism, a further person wrote: “Why does someone being nice always result in negativity?

Sacha Byford is offering free bikini waxes to women who bring in their smear test appointment letter throughout February.

“People should be praising this lady for offering this! It’s not about being ‘tidy’. Some women are just not comfortable with it. So if someone can make them feel a little more relaxed about it, what’s the issue? She’s taking time out of her day, which could be used making a living, to help a worthy cause.”

What do you think? Email our editor at jeremy.ransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk